The Dreamer

I watched The Astronaut Farmer the other night. I can't say that I had expected it would be much good. I haven't seen Billy Bob Thorton in many other films - but he certainly shone in this performance. A driven man, Charles Farmer dreams of one day orbiting the earth in the rocket he is building in his barn - his life's work. The US Government is opposed to Farmer's project - "space-flight is only for us". But as Bruce Willis says in a surprise cameo role "16.2 billion dollars in this year's budget alone", "for what?" returns Farmer, to which Willis responds "for what, who cares for what - for whatever they want..." An excellent point I thought.

Early in the film, Charles Farmer withdraws his children from the local school, and starts up the Farmer Space Program. With lessons in the morning, and work on the rocket in the afternoons and evenings, this is project that the whole family is able to work together in. Needless to say, Farmer's wife is not all that happy when she finds out, however the family sticks together through thick and thin - respectful children and a trusting, long-suffering wife make for a change from the usual "Hollywood-family" drivel.

Definitely worth a watch, though you may find yourself rolling your eyes at times, as scientific or rational limits are ignored - for the sake of the story. The comparitive lack of swearing and the wonderful family relationship make this film a good choice for a Saturday evening with the whole family. I have to say, it was the home-educating and personal-responsibility themes that got me.